The mage thought for a moment, trying to recall the sensations he had felt when the spirit touched him.
"I'm not sure," he admitted. "It was like it was trying to send me a message, but I couldn't understand it. I know I felt strangely calm and relaxed, though."
The mage's fellow mages nodded, understanding.
"Maybe it was trying to communicate with you through emotions, rather than words," one of them suggested.
"That makes sense," the mage said, nodding. "I definitely felt a strong sense of peace and tranquility while it had its hand on me. It was like it was trying to convey those feelings to me, somehow."
The other mages looked thoughtful, considering this possibility.
"It's possible that they communicate solely through emotions," one of them mused. "Maybe they can transfer feelings and sensations directly into the minds of other creatures."
"That would explain why they don't make any sound when they speak," one of the mages said. "It's like their communication is all on a psychic level, rather than a spoken one."
The mages continued to speculate, their minds buzzing with theories about the ice spirits' communication abilities.
"Maybe they can read human thoughts as well," one mage suggested. "If they can communicate through emotions, they might also have access to our minds and be able to understand what we're thinking."
"That's a scary thought," said another mage with a shiver. "If that's true, they could know everything about us just by touching us."
The mages fell silent for a moment, contemplating the implications of that possibility. They knew that the ice spirits were powerful and mysterious creatures, and the thought of them being able to read their minds was a bit unnerving.
Suddenly, one of the mages stiffened, his eyes widening. "Shh! Quiet!" he whispered urgently.
The other mages immediately fell silent, listening intently.
The mage who had signaled them to be quiet slowly raised a finger to his lips, his eyes scanning the clearing.
He had distinctly heard footsteps approaching from the trees.
The mages all tensed as the footsteps grew louder and closer. They could hear the crunch of snow and leaves underfoot, letting them know that whoever or whatever was approaching was close by.
Suddenly, a group of villagers emerged from the trees, their faces drawn and nervous. They immediately saw the mages standing at the edge of the clearing, and they froze in surprise.
The mages and the villagers stared at each other in disbelief, neither side fully comprehending the situation. The mages hadn't expected to be interrupted, and the villagers hadn't expected to find outsiders in the middle of their secret woods.
The tension was palpable, and nobody spoke for a moment.